Transcultural adaptation to Portuguese of the Mind Excessively Wandering Scale (MEWS) for evaluation of thought activity / Adaptação transcultural da Mind Excessively Wandering Scale para avaliação de atividade mental

Abstract Introduction: The concept of mind wandering refers to periods during which attention and content of thoughts depart from the original idea or activity being performed. The phenomenon occurs commonly in the general population and the Mind Wandering Excessively Scale (MEWS) evaluates its frequency, intensity and related negative outcomes. Objective: To describe the cross-cultural adaptation of the MEWS. Methods: Cross-cultural adaptation of the original scale followed five consecutive steps: translation, backtranslation, appreciation of semantic equivalence and administration to a convenience sample to 20 adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 20 normal controls. Results: Results indicated a satisfactory equivalence between the original and translated versions. A synthesis version for Brazilian Portuguese is presented. Conclusions: MEWS provides information on thought activity, which is particularly important in ADHD cases. The Brazilian Portuguese version would be welcome to address specific treatment responses and obtain new outcome measures

Resumo Introdução: O conceito de devaneio se refere a períodos nos quais a atenção e o conteúdo do pensamento de distanciam da ideia original ou da atividade que estava sendo realizada. O fenômeno ocorre na população em geral, e a Escala Mind Excessively Wandering Scale (MEWS) avalia sua frequência, intensidade e desfechos negativos associados. Objetivos: Descrever a adaptação transcultural da MEWS. Métodos: A adaptação transcultural envolveu cinco etapas: tradução, retrotradução, apreciação da equivalência semântica e administração em amostra de conveniência composta de 20 adultos com transtorno do déficit de atenção com hiperatividade (TDAH) e 20 controles normais. Resultados: Os resultados demonstraram equivalência satisfatória entre as versões original e traduzida. Uma versão síntese para o português brasileiro é apresentada. Conclusão: A MEWS fornece informações importantes sobre atividade mental, algo particularmente importante em casos de TDAH. A versão em português brasileiro deverá ser bem acolhida, permitindo investigar respostas específicas ao tratamento e obter novas medidas de desfechos.

Wandering Minds with Wandering Brain Networks / 神经科学通报·英文版

The default mode network (DMN) is associated with the occurrence of mind-wandering or task-unrelated thought. In contrast, the frontal-parietal network (FPN) and visual network (VS) are involved in tasks with external stimuli. However, it is not clear how these functional network interactions support these two different processes - mind-wandering and on-task - especially with regard to individual variation in the mind-wandering experience. In this study, we investigated the functional connectivity and modular structure among the DMN, FPN, and VS. Our results showed that, compared to the on-task period, mind-wandering was associated with increased DMN activity and increased DMN-VS connectivity. Moreover, mind-wandering was accompanied by a large number of transitional nodes, which expressed a diversity of brain regions. Intriguingly, the functional connectivity of the FPN and VS was strongly correlated with individual behavioral performance. Our findings highlight the individual variation of mind-wandering, which implies the importance of other complementary large-scale brain networks.

Translation and validation of the Mind-Wandering Test for spanish adolescents

Background: Working memory capacity and fluent intelligence influence cognitive capacity as a predictive value of success. In line with this, one matter appears, that of mind wandering, which partly explains the variability in the results obtained from the subjects who do these tests. A recently developed measure to evaluate this phenomenon is the Mind-Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ). Objective: The objective of this work was to translate into Spanish the MWQ for its use with adolescents and to validate it and to analyze its relation with these values: self-esteem, dispositional mindfulness, satisfaction with life, happiness, and positive and negative affects. Methods: A sample of 543 secondary students: 270 males (49.72%) and 273 females (50.28%) were used, who completed the questionnaire, and also did tests of self-esteem, dispositional mindfulness, satisfaction with life, happiness, and positive and negative effects. The transcultural adaptation process followed these steps: translation, back translation, evaluation of translations by a panel of judges, and testing the final version. Results: Validity analyses were done of the construct (% explained variance = 52.1), and internal consistency was high (α = .766). The coefficients of correlation with the self-esteem, MASS, satisfaction with life, happiness, and affects scales confirmed the questionnaire's validity, and a multiple regression analysis (R 2= 34.1; model F= 24.19. p< 0.001) was run. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the questionnaire obtained good reliability coefficients and its factorial structure reliably replicated that obtained by the original measure. The results indicate that the Spanish version of the MWQ is a suitably valid measure to evaluate the mind-wandering phenomenon. (AU)

Performance and Interventions of Mind Wandering in Sustained Attention Response Task / 中国康复理论与实践

Objective To investigate the impact of mind wandering in sustained attention response task, and offer interventions to cope with mind wandering. Methods In December, 2016, a total of 37 athletes were tested with sustained attention response task. Their technical index, reaction time variation and accurate rate were calculated. Results The statistics of 25 athletes showed that, the technical index was lower in complex task than in simple task (t(35)=-8.019, P<0.001). No significant difference was found in the reaction time variation between two tasks (t(23)=-1.575, P=0.129), the main effect of mind wandering was not significant (F(1,23)=0.488, P=0.492), as well as the interaction of mind wandering and task difficulty (F(1,23)=0.054, P=0.262). No significant difference was found in the accurate rate between two tasks (t(23)=-1.046, P=0.307), the main effect of mind wandering was not significant (F(1,23)=0.119, P=0.733), and the interaction of mind wander-ing and task difficulty was marginal significance (F(1,23)=3.608, P=0.070). Conclusion Athlete's mind wandering with awareness would influ-ence the performance in complex sustained attention response task. Mindfulness training and tasks engagement could effectively cope with mind wandering.